Over the years I have profiled bloggers from the Northwest Territories to the Fraser Valley, anyone that interests me and that I hope will interest you as well. A few years ago I started asking a standard set of questions and I’ve sent these out to a few local bloggers for this week’s series. Click, share, explore, and enjoy.
Melissa Carr
Photo courtesy of Melissa Carr
Blog: TheThirtiesGrind
Twitter: @meliss604
Facebook: /TheThirtiesGrind
Pinterest: meliss604
How long has your blog been around?
I started my blog in March 2012.
What is your role?
All of the above. It takes up a lot of my time but I LOVE it!
What does your site do/what is it about
My site is all about life in your thirties, particularly in Vancouver. The tagline for The Thirties Grind is “Get up. Go to work. Raise kids. Pay bills. Sleep. Repeat.” Sometimes I feel like this stage in life is kind of like the movie “Groundhog Day”… and I know many people my age feel the same way. We’re all balancing careers, relationships, homes, debt etc. It’s a crazy, crazy time…
One of the most popular subjects I’ve written about is Vancouver real estate. My feature, the “Absurd Vancouver Property of the Week” went viral on the second or third week I posted it. People in Vancouver love to gripe about real estate… it’s an important issue, but we can still have a sense of humour about it!
What can people see, read, and do when visiting your site?
Read and discuss topical issues (particularly those that affect women and children), enter contests, and read about amazing REAL Vancouver women. In my feature “The REAL Real Housewives of Vancouver”, I pose questions, taken from the application form for the reality series, to everyday Vancouver women…we have incredibly diverse and talented women in this city, and I wanted to highlight that.
Why do you blog?
For a long time, I was a writer who didn’t write. I finally decided that I needed an outlet for the many thoughts and opinions I had banging about in my head. I wanted to write about things my friends and I talk about when we’re sitting in my kitchen having a glass of wine…things I’m certain other people talk about and have opinions on, also. The response I have had to my blog is incredible and I love the dialogue and debate that come out of conversations I spark.
What is the ultimate goal for your site, how would you like to see it grow?
Who wouldn’t love to be able to make a living by doing what you love? That is my ultimate goal. I’m still so new to this whole scene, however, and am learning as I go. I’ve been fortunate to make some wonderful connections and have received amazing advice and insight. Time will tell what the future of TheThirtiesGrind holds, but I am confident that this is an avenue I want to continue to pursue.
Follow Melissa on her blog TheThirtiesGrind, Twitter, Pinterest and on Facebook.
Read all entries in my Blogger Profile series and feel free to suggest a blogger for possible feature in the comments of this post.
The Vancouver International Film Festival is in full swing for its 31st year of celebrating international, national, and local productions. Last night the festival officially opened with a screening of Deepa Mehta’s Midnight’s Children which was followed up by the opening gala at the Salt Building in the Village on False Creek.
Honda Canada (the official vehicle of VIFF) has partnered with me to offer up two pairs of vouchers to see any VIFF film this year*. The winner of the contest can choose from any film in each of the following series: Canadian Images, Cinema of Our Time, Dragons & Tigers, Garden in the Sea, International Shorts, Nonfiction Features of 2012, Nonfiction Features: Arts and Letters, and the Spotlight on France.
Here’s how you can enter to win:
- Leave a comment with the name of a Canadian film (1 entry)
- Post the following on Twitter (1 entry)
I will draw two winners (who will each receive a pair of tickets along with VIFF memberships) at random from all entries at 5:00pm on Sunday, September 30, 2012. The Vancouver International Film Festival is on now until October 12, 2012. The closing gala will be a screening of Holy Motors from director Leos Carax.
* Valid for screenings that take place after the close of this contest. Vouchers will need to be traded in for tickets at the box office so it is recommended that the winner pick up their tickets well in advance to arrange a spot at their film of choice. Excludes galas and live performances.
Update The winners are Amy & @lyndszy!
A quick Sea Bus ride away from downtown Vancouver, the Lonsdale Quay Market is your North Shore source for fresh produce, local vegetables, meats, cheeses, wines and artisan wares. This October they are hosting Savour, a festival of food and wine taking place every Saturday form October 6th until October 27th, 2012.
Sharky’s Chophouse Cooking Demonstration
Saturday, October 6, 2012 at 2:00pm
Cooking demonstrations (with samples) for comfort food like Turkey Cranberry Saje Meatloaf, Chorizo and Apricot Stuffing and Slow Braised Beef Shortribs.
Stephanie Yuen, Cook Book Author – East Meets West
Saturday, October 13, 2012 2:00pm to 4:00pm
Stephanie Yuen will do a shopping tour and cooking demonstration with a recipe from her book. I’ve spent time with Stephanie before and she’s a very passionate woman who definitely knows her cooking.
Market Taste Tours
Saturday, October 20, 2012 at 11:00am and 2:00pm
Join a tour, have some samples, and enjoy entertainment from a Julia Child impersonator.
Cordon Bleu Kids
Saturday, October 20, 2012 from 12:00pm to 3:00pm
Kids can pick up a paper chef’s hat to decorate and enjoy other market activities.
Pie Baking Tips
Saturday, October 27, 2012 at 2:00pm
Learn the tricks to making the perfect fruit pie from El Dorado Pies & Treats.
It’s the Great Pumpkin, Kids
Saturday, October 27, 2012 from 12:00pm to 3:00pm
Head up to Kids Alley for Halloween-themed activities and to decorate mini pumpkins donated to the event by Kin’s Farm Market.
Participation in each event is free but donations will be accepted for Harvest Project.
Harvest Project reaches out to individuals and families across Metro-Vancouver’s North Shore who are challenged by family break-down, illness, job loss and poverty. Touching more than 1000 people each month – with client-care coaching, our grocery depot, emergency drop-in visits, and Clothes For Change thrift shop. Follow Harvest Project on Facebook and Twitter to learn more about the cause.
As much as I love the diversity of neighbourhoods in Vancouver, from the quiet oak-lined streets of the West Side to the community parks of Strathcona and the sloped views of Sunset, the West End downtown has been my home for nearly seven years now. I love that I can walk in a block or two from a major downtown street and hear birds chirping and lawn mowers trimming. Today’s round-up of photos from the Vancouver Public Library‘s archives features the grand old houses of the West End, some of which are still around today.
It looks like your classic neighbourhood corner store. A place where I would have gone to purchase 5 cent gummy candies and Big Leaque Chew when I was young. Granger Grocery on Heather at West 16th in Vancouver even has the iconic “Enjoy Coke” sign outside. However, one step into what is really Connie’s Cookin’ and you’ll feel like you’re in a whole other world — one with delicious Korean food.
Michelle led me to Connie’s, where she’s become a regular. Having a Korean mother, she instantly fell in love with Connie’s cooking and the friendly atmosphere created by her and her partner Jamie.
There are a few remnants of a corner store, like Twix and Crispy Crunch bars stacked in a corner, but you won’t find smokes or Lotto anywhere — that’s not the main attraction. Walk into Connie’s a look up at the menu board. There’s one menu item each day. If it’s Thursday, you get what Connie cooks on Thursdays. In our case, it was raw vegetable Bi Bim Bap.
iPhone photos, wish I brought my regular camera!
We took a seat in a nook with hand-carved seats between beams that resembled tree trunks. Everything seemed hand-made, including the chair I sat on that Jamie said he wasn’t quite finished putting together (it was sturdy enough, he just planned on adding a foot-rest). There was only room for about 8 people but you can shuffle around a bit or get your meal to-go. Sketched signs give instructions about menu items and a shelf of artisan soaps and lotions for sale near the door provided a contrasting aroma to the spice that was being simmered into our dishes.
While Connie works her wizardry in the kitchen, Jamie runs a tight ship up front. He delivered our plates (“for Michelle and friend”) which were covered in heaps of fresh vegetables. The sign outside said black beluga lentils, mung beans, alfalfa sees, red clover seeds, and red radish seeds were the toppers on the dish. I also ordered chicken with mine and when it arrived perfectly juicy and tender, shredded apart resembling succulent pulled pork, Michelle had to order some for herself as well.
To wash all down all of this crisp, crunchy, spicy goodness we picked up two green juices from the front counter. Kale, spinach, apple, cucumber — a nice splash of vitamins that would make our stomachs happy for the rest of the day. My lunch came to $13 (for the Bi Bim Bap, added chicken, and the drink).
If you stop by Connie’s on Wednesday’s you’ll get a noodle dish and Michelle said her fish & chips on Fridays are awesome. It’s casual, comfortable, quirky, and delicious. Connie’s Cookin’ truly re-defines the term “hidden gem” for me — it’s completely unexpected. It was definitely a nice way to spend an afternoon with my childhood friend, walking to the corner store and spending our pennies.
Connie’s is located at 701 16th Avenue West with the big Granger Grocery sign out front. They’re open Monday to Friday for breakfast and lunch. I can’t find a website, Facebook, or Twitter account for them. According to Yelp they’re open 9:00am to 6:30pm on weekdays and on Saturdays from 10:00am to 4:00pm.
